Image capturing apparatus, device, control method, and computer-readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image capturing apparatus that includes a mounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicating with the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard is provided. The apparatus outputs to a device, if the device having a function of executing image analysis processing for image data captured by the image capturing apparatus is mounted in the mounting part, a command complying with the predetermined standard and configured to cause the device to execute the image analysis processing. The apparatus outputs at least two commands associated with each other and configured to cause the device to execute the image analysis processing, wherein each of the at least two commands includes data representing that the at least two commands are associated with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique of using the functions of adetachable device.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, image processing such as image analysis of performingobject detection and tracking or performing attribute estimation, andestimation of the number of objects based on the result of such imageanalysis is performed in various scenes using images captured by amonitoring camera. Conventionally, such image processing has beenperformed by transferring videos from the monitoring camera to a highperformance arithmetic apparatus such as a PC or a server that executesactual image processing. However, the recent improvement of theprocessing capability of mobile arithmetic apparatuses allows themonitoring camera side to perform image processing. Processing on thecamera side can be executed by, for example, an arithmetic apparatusarranged in a camera main body. When the arithmetic apparatus isarranged in a detachable device such as a USB, the detachable device canexecute at least a part of processing.

The present invention provides a technique of improving convenience in asystem that causes a detachable device to execute at least a part ofprocessing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided animage capturing apparatus comprising: a mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard; andan output unit configured to, if a device having a function of executingimage analysis processing for image data captured by the image capturingapparatus is mounted in the mounting part, output, to the device, acommand complying with the predetermined standard and configured tocause the device to execute the image analysis processing, wherein theoutput unit outputs at least two commands associated with each other andconfigured to cause the device to execute the image analysis processing,and each of the at least two commands includes data representing thatthe at least two commands are associated with each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device mounted in a mounting part of an image capturing apparatusincluding the mounting part capable of attaching/detaching a devicecapable of holding at least an image captured by the image capturingapparatus and capable of communicating with the mounted device inaccordance with a predetermined standard, comprising: a processing unitconfigured to execute image analysis processing for image data capturedby the image capturing apparatus; and an obtaining unit configured toobtain, from the image capturing apparatus, a command complying with thepredetermined standard and configured to cause the device to execute theimage analysis processing, wherein the processing unit executes theimage analysis processing if the obtaining unit obtains at least twocommands associated with each other, and each of the at least twocommands includes data representing that the at least two commands areassociated with each other.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof an image capturing apparatus:

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the image capturing apparatus:

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof a detachable device:

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the detachable device:

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof an input/output apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functionalarrangement of the input/output apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingexecuted by the system;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof ascertaining analysis processing;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof determining the contents of analysis processing;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of control ofexecuting analysis processing:

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of control ofexecuting post-processing;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are views showing the structures of a command and aresponse;

FIG. 14 is a view schematically showing data at an address that storesinformation of processing functions;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of information that the imagecapturing apparatus obtains;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing:

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing:

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of processingof automatically switching between storage processing and image analysisprocessing:

FIG. 20 is a view showing the structures of a command and a response:

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of a user interface;

FIG. 22 is a view showing an example of the user interface in a state inwhich a processing result is shown;

FIG. 23 is a view schematically showing an image analysis processinggroup for face authentication processing and a processing groupexecutable in each apparatus:

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used:

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used; and

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of selectionprocessing of a processing function to be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intendedto limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features aredescribed in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to an inventionthat requires all such features, and multiple such features may becombined as appropriate.

Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals aregiven to the same or similar configurations, and redundant descriptionthereof is omitted.

<System Arrangement>

FIG. 1 shows an example of the arrangement of an image analysis systemaccording to this embodiment. As an example, a case in which this systemis a specific person tracking system will be described below. However,the present invention is not limited to this, and the following argumentcan be applied to an arbitrary system for analyzing an image andperforming predetermined information output. This system is configuredto include image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 d, a network 120,and an input/output apparatus 130. Note that the image capturingapparatuses 110 a to 110 d each include a slot to/from which a devicecapable of recording, for example, a captured image can beattached/detached, and when the detachable devices 100 a to 100 d areinserted into the slots, the image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 dare connected to the detachable devices 100 a to 100 d. Note that thedetachable devices 100 a to 100 d will be referred to as “detachabledevices 100”, and the image capturing apparatuses 110 a to 110 d will bereferred to as “image capturing apparatuses 110” hereinafter.

The detachable device 100 is an arithmetic device attachable/detachableto/from the image capturing apparatus 110. As an example, the detachabledevice 100 is a device with a predetermined processing circuit mountedin an SD card. The detachable device 100 is configured to be inserted asa whole into the image capturing apparatus 110 in a form of, forexample, an SD card, and can therefore be configured to be connectableto the image capturing apparatus 110 without making any portion projectfrom the image capturing apparatus 110. Alternatively, the detachabledevice 100 may be configured such that, for example, a half or more ofit can be inserted into the image capturing apparatus 110, and maytherefore be configured to be connectable to the image capturingapparatus 110 while making a portion project a little from the imagecapturing apparatus 110. This can prevent the detachable device 100 frominterfering with an obstacle such as a wiring and raise the conveniencewhen using the device. In addition, since an SD card slot is prepared ina lot of existing image capturing apparatuses 110 such as a networkcamera, the detachable device 100 can provide an extension function tothe existing image capturing apparatus 110. Note that other than theform of an SD card, the detachable device 100 may be configured to bemounted in the image capturing apparatus 110 via an arbitrary interfaceused when mounting a storage device capable of storing an image capturedby at least the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, thedetachable device 100 may include a USB (Universal Serial Bus)interface, and may be configured to be mounted in a USB socket of theimage capturing apparatus 110. The predetermined processing circuit isimplemented by, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array)programmed to execute predetermined processing but may be implemented inanother form.

The image capturing apparatus 110 is an image capturing apparatus suchas a network camera. In this embodiment, the image capturing apparatus110 incorporates an arithmetic apparatus capable of processing a videobut is not limited to this. For example, an external computer such as aPC (Personal Computer) connected to the image capturing apparatus 110may exist, and the combination may be handled as the image capturingapparatus 110. Additionally, in this embodiment, the detachable devices100 are mounted in all the image capturing apparatuses 110. Note thatFIG. 1 shows four image capturing apparatuses 110, and the detachabledevices mounted in these. The number of combinations of devices may bethree or less, or five or more. When the detachable device 100 having animage analysis processing function is mounted in the image capturingapparatus 110, video processing can be executed on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 even if the image capturing apparatus 110 doesnot have the image analysis processing function. Also, in a form inwhich an arithmetic apparatus for video processing is arranged in theimage capturing apparatus 110, as in this embodiment, image processingexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 can bediversified/sophisticated by mounting the detachable device 100including an arithmetic apparatus in the image capturing apparatus 110.

The input/output apparatus 130 is an apparatus that performs acceptanceof input from a user and output of information (for example, display ofinformation) to the user. In this embodiment, for example, theinput/output apparatus 130 is a computer such as a PC, and informationis input/output by a browser or a native application installed in thecomputer.

The image capturing apparatuses 110 and the input/output apparatus 130are communicably connected via the network 120. The network 120 isconfigured to include a plurality of routers, switches, cables, and thelike, which satisfy the communication standard of, for example,Ethernet®. In this embodiment, the network 120 can be an arbitrarynetwork that enables communication between the image capturing apparatus110 and the input/output apparatus 130, and can be constructed by anarbitrary scale and arrangement and a communication standard to complywith. For example, the network 120 can be the Internet, a wired LAN(Local Area Network), a wireless LAN, a WAN (Wide Area Network), or thelike. The network 120 can be configured such that, for example,communication by a communication protocol complying with the ONVIF (OpenNetwork Video Interface Forum) standard is possible. However, thenetwork 120 is not limited to this and may be configured such that, forexample, communication by another communication protocol such as aunique communication protocol is possible.

<Apparatus Arrangement>

(Arrangement of Image Capturing Apparatus)

The arrangement of the image capturing apparatus 110 will be describednext. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardwarearrangement of the image capturing apparatus 110. As the hardwarearrangement, the image capturing apparatus 110 includes, for example, animage capturing unit 201, an image processing unit 202, an arithmeticprocessing unit 203, a distribution unit 204, and an SD I/F unit 205.Note that I/F is an abbreviation of interface.

The image capturing unit 201 is configured to include a lens portionconfigured to form an image of light, and an image capturing elementthat performs analog signal conversion according to the formed image oflight. The lens portion has a zoom function of adjusting an angle ofview, a stop function of adjusting a light amount, and the like. Theimage capturing element has again function of adjusting sensitivity whenconverting light into an analog signal. These functions are adjustedbased on set values notified from the image processing unit 202. Theanalog signal obtained by the image capturing unit 201 is converted intoa digital signal by an analog-to-digital conversion circuit andtransferred to the image processing unit 202 as an image signal.

The image processing unit 202 is configured to include an imageprocessing engine, and peripheral devices thereof. The peripheraldevices include, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), the driversof I/Fs, and the like. The image processing unit 202 performs, forexample, image processing such as development processing, filterprocessing, sensor correction, and noise removal for the image signalobtained from the image capturing unit 201, thereby generating imagedata. The image processing unit 202 can also transmit set values to thelens portion and the image capturing element and execute exposureadjustment to obtain an appropriately exposed image. The image datagenerated by the image processing unit 202 is transferred to thearithmetic processing unit 203.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 is formed by at least one processorsuch as a CPU or an MPU, memories such as a RAM and a ROM, the driversof I/Fs, and the like. Note that CPU is the acronym of CentralProcessing Unit, MPU is the acronym of Micro Processing Unit, RAM is theacronym of Random Access Memory, and ROM is the acronym of Read OnlyMemory. In an example, the arithmetic processing unit 203 can determineallocation concerning which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 should execute each portion of processing tobe executed in the above-described system, and execute processingcorresponding to the allocation. Details of processing contents andprocessing allocation will be described later. The image received fromthe image processing unit 202 is transferred to the distribution unit204 or the SD I/F unit 205. The data of the processing result is alsotransferred to the distribution unit 204.

The distribution unit 204 is configured to include a networkdistribution engine and, for example, peripheral devices such as a RAMand an ETH PHY module. The ETH PHY module is a module that executesprocessing of the physical (PHY) layer of Ethernet. The distributionunit 204 converts the image data or the data of the processing resultobtained from the arithmetic processing unit 203 into a formatdistributable to the network 120, and outputs the converted data to thenetwork 120. The SD IF unit 205 is an interface portion used to connectthe detachable device 100, and is configured to include, for example, apower supply, and a mounting part such as an attaching/detaching socketused to attach/detach the detachable device 100. Here, the SD I/F unit205 is configured in accordance with the SD standard formulated by theSD Association. Communication between the detachable device 100 and theimage capturing apparatus 110, such as transfer of an image obtainedfrom the arithmetic processing unit 203 to the detachable device 100 ordata obtaining from the detachable device 100, is performed via the SDI/F unit 205.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the functional arrangement of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. The image capturing apparatus 110 includes, asits functions, for example, an image capturing control unit 301, asignal processing unit 302, a storage unit 303, a control unit 304, ananalysis unit 305, a device communication unit 306, and a networkcommunication unit 307.

The image capturing control unit 301 executes control of capturing theperipheral environment via the image capturing unit 201. The signalprocessing unit 302 performs predetermined processing for the imagecaptured by the image capturing control unit 301, thereby generatingdata of the captured image. The data of the captured image will simplybe referred to as the “captured image” hereinafter. The signalprocessing unit 302, for example, encodes the image captured by theimage capturing control unit 301. The signal processing unit 302performs encoding for a still image using, for example, an encodingmethod such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). The signalprocessing unit 302 performs encoding for a moving image using anencoding method such as H.264/MPEG-4 AVC (to be referred to as “H.264”hereinafter) or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding). The signalprocessing unit 302 may encode an image using an encoding methodselected by the user from a plurality of encoding methods set in advancevia, for example, an operation unit (not shown) of the image capturingapparatus 110.

The storage unit 303 stores a list (to be referred to as a “firstprocessing list” hereinafter) of analysis processing executable by theanalysis unit 305 and a list of post-processes for a result of analysisprocessing. The storage unit 303 also stores a result of analysisprocessing to be described later. Note that in this embodiment,processing to be executed is analysis processing. However, arbitraryprocessing may be executed, and concerning processing associated withthe processing to be executed, the storage unit 303 may store the firstprocessing list and the list of post-processes. The control unit 304controls the signal processing unit 302, the storage unit 303, theanalysis unit 305, the device communication unit 306, and the networkcommunication unit 307 to execute predetermined processing.

The analysis unit 305 selectively executes at least one of pre-analysisprocessing, analysis processing, and post-analysis processing to bedescribed later for a captured image. Pre-analysis processing isprocessing to be executed for a captured image before analysisprocessing to be described later is executed. In the pre-analysisprocessing according to this embodiment, as an example, processing ofdividing a captured image to create divided images is executed. Analysisprocessing is processing of outputting information obtained by analyzingan input image. In the analysis processing according to this embodiment,as an example, processing of receiving a divided image obtained bypre-analysis processing, executing at least one of human body detectionprocessing, face detection processing, and vehicle detection processing,and outputting the analysis processing result is executed. The analysisprocessing can be processing configured to output the position of anobject in a divided image using a machine learning model that haslearned to detect an object included in an image using, for example, thetechnique in J. Redmon and A. Farhadi “YOLO9000: Better Faster Stronger”Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) 2016. Post-analysisprocessing is processing to be executed after analysis processing isexecuted. In the post-analysis processing according to this embodiment,as an example, processing of outputting, as a processing result, a valueobtained by adding the numbers of objects detected in the divided imagesbased on the analysis processing result for each divided image isexecuted. Note that the analysis processing may be processing ofdetecting an object in an image by performing pattern matching andoutputting the position of the object.

The device communication unit 306 performs communication with thedetachable device 100. The device communication unit 306 converts inputdata into a format processable by the detachable device 100, andtransmits data obtained by the conversion to the detachable device 100.In addition, the device communication unit 306 receives data from thedetachable device 100, and converts the received data into a formatprocessable by the image capturing apparatus 110. In this embodiment, asthe conversion processing, the device communication unit 306 executesprocessing of converting a decimal between a floating point format and afixed point format. However, the present invention is not limited tothis, and another processing may be executed by the device communicationunit 306. Additionally, in this embodiment, the device communicationunit 306 transmits a command sequence determined in advance within therange of the SD standard to the detachable device 100, and receives aresponse from the detachable device 100, thereby performingcommunication with the detachable device 100. The network communicationunit 307 performs communication with the input/output apparatus 130 viathe network 120.

(Arrangement of Detachable Device)

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware arrangementof the detachable device 100. As an example, the detachable device 100is configured to include an IF unit 401, an FPGA 402, an SD controller403, and a storage unit 404. The detachable device 100 is formed into ashape that can be inserted/removed into/from the attaching/detachingsocket of the SD I/F unit 205 provided in the image capturing apparatus110, that is, a shape complying with the SD standard.

The I/F unit 401 is an interface portion used to connect an apparatussuch as the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100.The I/F unit 401 is configured to include, for example, an electricalcontact terminal that receives supply of power from the image capturingapparatus 110 and generates and distributes a power supply to be used inthe detachable device 100, and the like. Concerning items defined in(complying with) the SD standard, the I/F unit 401 complies with that,like the SD I/F unit 205 of the image capturing apparatus 110. Receptionof images and setting data from the image capturing apparatus 110 andtransmission of data from the FPGA 402 to the image capturing apparatus110 are executed via the I/F unit 401.

The FPGA 402 is configured to include an input/output control unit 410,a processing switching unit 411, and an arithmetic processing unit 412.The FPGA 402 is a kind of semiconductor device capable of repetitivelyreconstructing an internal logic circuit structure. By processingimplemented by the FPGA 402, a processing function can be added(provided) to the apparatus in which the detachable device 100 ismounted. Additionally, since the logic circuit structure can be changedlater by the reconstruction function of the FPGA 402, when thedetachable device 100 is mounted in, for example, an apparatus in afield of a quickly advancing technology, appropriate processing can beexecuted in the apparatus at an appropriate timing. Note that in thisembodiment, an example in which an FPGA is used will be described.However, for example, a general-purpose ASIC or a dedicated LSI may beused if processing to be described later can be executed. The FPGA 402is activated by writing, from a dedicated I/F, setting data includingthe information of a logic circuit structure to be generated or readingout the setting data from the dedicated 1T. In this embodiment, thesetting data is held in the storage unit 404. When powered on, the FPGA402 reads out the setting data from the storage unit 404 and generatesand activates a logic circuit. However, the present invention is notlimited to this. For example, the image capturing apparatus 110 maywrite the setting data in the FPGA 402 via the I/F unit 401 byimplementing a dedicated circuit in the detachable device.

The input/output control unit 410 is configured to include a circuitused to transmit/receive an image to/from the image capturing apparatus110, a circuit that analyzes a command received from the image capturingapparatus 110, a circuit that controls based on a result of analysis,and the like. Commands here are defined by the SD standard, and theinput/output control unit 410 can detect some of them. Details of thefunctions will be described later. The input/output control unit 410controls to transmit an image to the SD controller 403 in storageprocessing and transmit an image to the arithmetic processing unit 412in image analysis processing. If the setting data of switching ofprocessing is received, the input/output control unit 410 transmits thesetting data to the processing switching unit 411. The processingswitching unit 411 is configured to include a circuit configured toobtain the information of the image analysis processing function fromthe storage unit 404 based on the setting data received from the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and write the information in the arithmeticprocessing unit 412. The information of the image analysis processingfunction includes setting parameters representing, for example, theorder and types of operations processed in the arithmetic processingunit 412, the coefficients of operations, and the like. The arithmeticprocessing unit 412 is configured to include a plurality of arithmeticcircuits needed to execute the image analysis processing function. Thearithmetic processing unit 412 executes each arithmetic processing basedon the information of the image analysis processing function receivedfrom the processing switching unit 411, transmits the processing resultto the image capturing apparatus 110, and/or records the processingresult in the storage unit 404. As described above, the FPGA 402extracts the setting data of an execution target processing functionincluded in setting data corresponding to a plurality of processingfunctions held in advance, and rewrites processing contents to beexecuted by the arithmetic processing unit 412 based on the extractedsetting data. This allows the detachable device 100 to selectivelyexecute at least one of the plurality of processing functions. Inaddition, by appropriately adding setting data of processing to be newlyadded, latest processing can be executed on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. Note that holding a plurality of setting datacorresponding to a plurality of processing functions will be referred toas holding a plurality of processing functions hereinafter. That is,even in a state in which the FPGA 402 of the detachable device 100 isconfigured to execute one processing function, if the processingcontents of the arithmetic processing unit 412 can be changed by settingdata for another processing function, this will be expressed as holdinga plurality of processing functions.

The SD controller 403 is a known control IC (Integrated Circuit) asdefined by the SD standard, and executes control of a slave operation ofan SD protocol and control of data read/write for the storage unit 404.The storage unit 404 is formed by, for example, a NAND flash memory, andstores various kinds of information such as storage data written fromthe image capturing apparatus 110, the information of the image analysisprocessing function written in the arithmetic processing unit 412, andsetting data of the FPGA 402.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the functional arrangement of the detachabledevice 100. The detachable device 100 includes, as its functionalarrangement, for example, an analysis unit 501 and a communication unit502. The analysis unit 501 executes analysis processing for an image.For example, if an analysis processing setting request is input, theanalysis unit 501 executes setting to set the input analysis processingin an executable state. If an image is input, the analysis unit 501executes the analysis processing set in the executable state for theinput image. In this embodiment, executable analysis processing includeshuman body detection processing and face detection processing but is notlimited to these. For example, it may be processing (face authenticationprocessing) of determining whether a person stored in advance isincluded in an image. For example, if the degree of matching between theimage characteristic amount of a person stored in advance and the imagecharacteristic amount of a person detected from an input image iscalculated, and the degree of matching is equal to or larger than athreshold, it is determined that the person is the person stored inadvance. Alternatively, it may be processing of superimposing apredetermined mask image or performing mosaic processing on a persondetected from an input image for the purpose of privacy protection. Itmay be processing of detecting, using a learning model that has learneda specific action of a person by machine learning, whether a person inan image is taking the specific action. Furthermore, it may beprocessing of determining what kind of region a region in an image is.It may be processing of determining, using, for example, a learningmodel that has learned buildings, roads, persons, sky and the like bymachine learning, what kind of region a region in an image is. Asdescribed above, executable analysis processing can be applied to bothimage analysis processing using machine learning and image analysisprocessing without using machine learning. Each analysis processingdescribed above may be executed not independently by the detachabledevice 100 but in cooperation with the image capturing apparatus 110.The communication unit 502 performs communication with the imagecapturing apparatus 110 via the I/F unit 401.

(Arrangement of Input/Output Apparatus)

FIG. 6 shows an example of the hardware arrangement of the input/outputapparatus 130. The input/output apparatus 130 is formed as a computersuch as a general PC, and is configured to include, for example, aprocessor 601 such as a CPU, memories such as a RAM 602 and a ROM 603, astorage device such as an HDD 604, and a communication I/F 605, as shownin FIG. 6. The input/output apparatus 130 can execute various kinds offunctions by executing, by the processor 601, programs stored in thememories and the storage device.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the functional arrangement of theinput/output apparatus 130 according to this embodiment. Theinput/output apparatus 130 includes, as its functional arrangement, forexample, a network communication unit 701, a control unit 702, a displayunit 703, and an operation unit 704. The network communication unit 701is connected to, for example, the network 120 and executes communicationwith an external apparatus such as the image capturing apparatus 110 viathe network 120. Note that this is merely an example and, for example,the network communication unit 701 may be configured to establish directcommunication with the image capturing apparatus 110 and communicatewith the image capturing apparatus 110 without intervention of thenetwork 120 or other apparatus. The control unit 702 controls such thatthe network communication unit 701, the display unit 703, and theoperation unit 704 execute processing of their own. The display unit 703presents information to the user via, for example, a display. In thisembodiment, a result of rendering by a browser is displayed on adisplay, thereby presenting information to the user. Note thatinformation may be presented by a method such as an audio or a vibrationother than screen display. The operation unit 704 accepts an operationfrom the user. In this embodiment, the operation unit 704 is a mouse ora keyboard, and the user operates these to input a user operation to thebrowser. However, the operation unit 704 is not limited to this and maybe, for example, another arbitrary device capable of detecting a user'sintention, such as a touch panel or a microphone.

<Procedure of Processing>

An example of the procedure of processing executed in the system will bedescribed next. Note that processing executed by the image capturingapparatus 110 in the following processes is implemented by, for example,by a processor in the arithmetic processing unit 203, executing aprogram stored in a memory or the like. However, this is merely anexample, and processing to be described later may partially or wholly beimplemented by dedicated hardware. In addition, processing executed bythe detachable device 100 or the input/output apparatus 130 may also beimplemented by, by a processor in each apparatus, executing a programstored in a memory or the like, and processing may partially or whollybe implemented by dedicated hardware.

(Overall Procedure)

FIG. 8 schematically shows a series of procedures of image analysisprocessing executed by the system. In this processing, first, the usermounts the detachable device 100 in the image capturing apparatus 110(step S801). The image capturing apparatus 110 executes aninitialization sequence of the detachable device 100 (step S802). Inthis initialization sequence, predetermined commands aretransmitted/received between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, and the image capturing apparatus 110 is thus setin a state in which it can use the detachable device 100. After that,the image capturing apparatus 110 ascertains processing executable bythe detachable device 100, and ascertains processing that can beexecuted locally (that can be executed only by the image capturingapparatus 110 or by the combination of the image capturing apparatus 110and the detachable device 1M) (step S803). Note that although thedetachable device 100 can be configured to execute arbitrary processing,processing irrelevant to processing that should be executed on the sideof the image capturing apparatus 110 need not be taken intoconsideration. In an example, the image capturing apparatus 110 may holda list of executable processes, which is obtained in advance from, forexample, the input/output apparatus 130. In this case, when obtaining,from the detachable device 100, information representing processingexecutable by the detachable device 100, the image capturing apparatus110 can ascertain only the executable processing depending on whetherthe processing is included in the list. Next, the image capturingapparatus 110 determines processing to be executed, and executes settingof the detachable device 100 as needed (step S804). That is, if at leastpart of processing determined as an execution target is to be executedby the detachable device 100, setting of the detachable device 100 forthe processing is executed. In this setting, for example, reconstructionof the FPGA 402 using setting data corresponding to the processing ofthe execution target can be performed. Then, the image capturingapparatus 110 or the detachable device 100 executes analysis processing(step S805). After that, the image capturing apparatus 110 executespost-processing (step S806). Note that the processes of steps S805 andS806 are repetitively executed. The processing shown in FIG. 8 isexecuted when, for example, the detachable device 100 is mounted.However, at least part of the processing shown in FIG. 8 mayrepetitively be executed such that, for example, the process of stepS803 is executed again when the detachable device 10 is detached.

(Processing of Ascertaining Excitable Processing)

FIG. 9 shows an example of the procedure of processing of ascertainingprocessing executable by the image capturing apparatus 110. Thisprocessing corresponds to the process of step S803 in FIG. 8, and can beexecuted if a device such as the detachable device 100 is mounted on theimage capturing apparatus 110 or removed, or if the image capturingapparatus 110 is powered on. In this processing, the image capturingapparatus 110 reads out processing executable by the detachable device100, integrates it with analysis processing excitable by the imagecapturing apparatus 110 itself, and ascertains analysis processingexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110.

First, the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 readsout a first processing list that is a list of processes executable bythe analysis unit 305 of the image capturing apparatus 110 itself, whichis stored in the storage unit 303 (step S901). Next, the control unit304 determines whether the mounted device is, for example, aconventional device having only a storage function of a predetermineddevice such as the detachable device 100 having a specific processingfunction (step S902). For example, the control unit 304 controls thedevice communication unit 306 to issue a read request (read command) fora specific address to the mounted device and read out flag data storedat the specific address. The specific address will sometime be referredto as an “address A” hereinafter. Note that details of the data storedat the address A will be described later. The control unit 304 candetermine, based on the read flag data, whether the detachable device100 is a predetermined device having a specific processing function.However, this is merely an example, and it may be determined by anothermethod whether the mounted device is a predetermined device.

If the mounted device is a predetermined device (YES in step S902), thecontrol unit 304 executes processing of ascertaining processingexecutable in the device (detachable device 100). The control unit 304controls the device communication unit 306 to communicate withdetachable device 100 and obtain a list (to be referred to as a “secondprocessing list” hereinafter) of processes executable in the detachabledevice 100 (step S903). The control unit 304 reads out the data storedat the address A as in a case in which, for example, it is determinedwhether the detachable device 100 is a predetermined device, therebyobtaining the second processing list. Note that, for example, the secondprocessing list can be stored at the same address (address A) as theflag data used to determine whether the detachable device is apredetermined device. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110can simultaneously execute the process of step S902 and the process ofstep S903 by accessing the address A and simultaneously obtaining theflag data and the second processing list. However, the present inventionis not limited to this, and these data may be stored at differentaddresses. After that, the control unit 304 creates an integratedprocessing list in which the first processing list of processesexecutable by the image capturing apparatus 110 itself, which is readout from the storage unit 303, and the second processing list obtainedfrom the detachable device are integrated (step S904), and ends theprocessing.

The integrated processing list represents a list of processes locallyexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 withoutperforming processing by an apparatus such as a server apparatus on thenetwork. Note that in this embodiment, the integrated processing list isa list obtained by the union of the processes included in the firstprocessing list and the processes included in the second processinglist. The integrated processing list is the list of processes includedin at least one of the first processing list and the second processinglist. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, if another processing can be executed by combining a processincluded in the first processing list and a process included in thesecond processing list, the other executable processing may be added tothe integrated processing list. That is, if new analysis processing canbe executed using at least some of the processes included in the firstprocessing list and at least some of the processes included in thesecond processing list together, the information of the analysisprocessing can be included in the integrated processing list. Forexample, face authentication processing can be implemented by a functiongroup of a face detection processing function, a face characteristicextraction processing function, and a face characteristic collationprocessing function. At this time, if the face detection processingfunction and the face characteristic extraction processing function areincluded in the first processing list, and the face characteristiccollation processing function is included in the second processing list,the face authentication processing can be included in the integratedprocessing list.

If the mounted device is not a predetermined device (NO in step S902),the control unit 304 determines that there is no processing executableby the mounted device. Hence, the control unit 304 sets the firstprocessing list of processes executable by the self-apparatus, which isread out from the storage unit 303, as the integrated processing listrepresenting processes locally executable on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 (step S905), and ends the processing. Note thatwhen the processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed at the time of deviceremoval, the predetermined device is not mounted, as a matter of course,and therefore, the first processing list is handled as the integratedprocessing list.

This makes it possible to form a list of processes locally executable onthe side of the image capturing apparatus 110 based on whether thedetachable device 100 capable of executing specific processing ismounted in the image capturing apparatus 110. In addition, when theintegrated processing list is presented to the user, as will bedescribed later, the user can select processing that becomes locallyexecutable on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 by themounting of the detachable device 100.

Note that in this embodiment, an example in which the integratedprocessing list is generated has been described. However, the firstprocessing list and the second processing list may separately bemanaged, and the integrated processing list may not be generated. Thatis, processes executable by the detachable device 100 and processesexecutable by the image capturing apparatus 110 without the detachabledevice 100 may be managed in a distinguishable manner and output. Evenif the first processing list and the second processing list are managedin a distinguishable manner, the integrated processing list may begenerated and managed. For example, if new processing can be executedusing a process included in the first processing list and a processincluded in the second processing list together, the new processing isincluded not in the first processing list and the second processing listbut in the integrated processing list. Note that when the integratedprocessing list is output, information representing whether a processincluded in the integrated processing list is included in the firstprocessing list or the second processing list in a distinguishablemanner can be output together. This allows the user to recognize, forexample, whether presented processing can be executed without thedetachable device 100.

Note that the above-described processing list is provided to an externalapparatus that is not included at least in the image capturing apparatus110, like the input/output apparatus 130, but may not be provided to theoutside. For example, the processing list may be output by displaying iton a display if the image capturing apparatus 110 includes a display orby outputting the processing list by an audio if the image capturingapparatus 110 has an audio output function. If the detachable device 100having an unintended function is erroneously mounted in the imagecapturing apparatus 110, the user can quickly recognize the mountingerror by presenting the processing list on the image capturing apparatus110. As described above, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output,in an arbitrary format, information based on the first processing listrepresenting processes executable by the image capturing apparatus 110and the second processing list representing processes executable by thedetachable device 100.

Additionally, when the detachable device 100 is removed, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes the processing shown in FIG. 9 again,thereby updating the integrated processing list. At this time, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 can discard the second processing listconcerning the removed detachable device 100. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the image capturing apparatus 110may separately store the second processing list concerning a certaindetachable device 100 in the storage unit 303 and output the secondprocessing list even in a case in which the detachable device 100 is notmounted. That is, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output thesecond processing list for the detachable device 100 mounted and removedin the past. The image capturing apparatus 110 may output informationrepresenting processing executable using a process included in thesecond processing list concerning the detachable device 100 mounted andremoved in the past and a process included in the first processing list(executable by the self-apparatus). In other words, the image capturingapparatus 110 can output information of processing that cannot beexecuted only by the self-apparatus. This makes it possible to notifythe user that the detachable device 100 capable of executing processingrepresented by output information exists, and that the processing can beexecuted by mounting the detachable device 100.

Furthermore, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output the secondprocessing list concerning the detachable device 100 (non-mounteddevice) that has never been mounted in the image capturing apparatus 110itself in the past but can be mounted in the image capturing apparatus110 itself. Information representing such a non-mounted device andanalysis processing executable by the non-mounted device can be, forexample, obtained by the image capturing apparatus 110 via an externalserver (not shown). The information representing the non-mounted deviceand analysis processing executable by the non-mounted device may be, forexample, held by the image capturing apparatus 110 in advance.

In addition, the image capturing apparatus 110 may output informationrepresenting a processing executable using a process included in thesecond processing list for the non-mounted device and a process includedin the first processing list (executable by the self-apparatus). Inother words, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output information ofprocessing that cannot be executed only by the self-apparatus. Thismakes it possible to notify the user that the detachable device 100capable of executing processing represented by output informationexists, and that the processing can be executed by mounting thedetachable device 100.

Note that when storing the second processing list for the detachabledevice 100 mounted and removed in the past, the image capturingapparatus 110 can store information capable of identifying the device,such as the model number of the detachable device 100, together. Whenoutputting the second processing list concerning the detachable device100, the image capturing apparatus 110 can output the informationcapable of identifying the detachable device 100 together. This allowsthe user to easily recognize which detachable device 100 should bemounted in the image capturing apparatus 110 to use a presentedprocessing function.

(Processing of Determining Analysis Processing Contents)

FIG. 10 shows an example of the procedure of processing of determininganalysis processing contents by the image capturing apparatus 110. Inthis processing, analysis processing locally executable on the side ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 is presented to the user via theinput/output apparatus 130, and the input/output apparatus 130 acceptsselection of the user. The image capturing apparatus 110 determinesanalysis processing to be executed in accordance with informationrepresenting the user selection accepted via the input/output apparatus130.

In this processing, first, the control unit 702 of the input/outputapparatus 130 controls the network communication unit 701 to executecommunication with the image capturing apparatus 110 and requestobtaining of a captured image, an integrated processing list, and apost-processing list (step S1001). As an example, the input/outputapparatus 130 transmits a request message defined by the ONVIF standardto the image capturing apparatus 110, thereby requesting transmission ofinformation to the image capturing apparatus 110. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the information transmissionrequest may be done by another message or the like. In the imagecapturing apparatus 110, based on the request, the image capturingcontrol unit 301 captures the peripheral environment, and the controlunit 304 controls the signal processing unit 302 to process an imagecaptured by the image capturing control unit 301 and obtain a capturedimage (step S1002). Note that the image capturing apparatus 110 maycapture the peripheral environment independently of the presence/absenceof the request and continuously obtain a captured image. The imagecapturing apparatus 110 may locally store the captured image or transferthe captured image to another apparatus such as a network server andstore. The control unit 304 reads out a post-processing list stored inthe storage unit 303. In this embodiment, the post-processing listincludes display processing and storage processing but is not limited tothis. The control unit 304 controls the network communication unit 307to transmit the post-processing list, an integrated processing listobtained by the processing shown in FIG. 9, and the captured imageobtained in step S1002 to the input/output apparatus 130 (step S1003).As an example, the image capturing apparatus 110 transmits a responsemessage to the request message defined by the above-described ONVIFstandard to the input/output apparatus 130, thereby transmitting theinformation to the input/output apparatus 130. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and the information may be transmittedby another message or the like. Note that only processing to be executedmay be taken into consideration here, and the captured image request bythe input/output apparatus 130 in step S1001, the captured imageobtaining in step S1002, and captured image transmission to theinput/output apparatus 130 in step S1003 may not be performed.

The control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 controls thenetwork communication unit 701 to receive the captured image and theintegrated processing list from the image capturing apparatus 110. Thecontrol unit 702 then controls the display unit 703 to present theintegrated processing list and the post-processing list to the user byscreen display or the like (step S1004). Note that at this time, thecontrol unit 702 may also present the captured image to the user byscreen display or the like. After that, the user confirms the integratedprocessing list and the post-processing list displayed by the displayunit 703, and selects analysis processing to be executed (to be referredto as “execution target processing” hereinafter) from the integratedprocessing list via the operation unit 704 (step S1005). In addition,the user selects a post-processing to be executed (to be referred to as“execution target post-processing” hereinafter) via the operation unit704 (step S1006). Details of information presentation to the user instep S1004, analysis processing selection by the user in step S1005, andpost-processing selection by the user in step S1006 will be describedlater. The operation unit 704 outputs the selection results of theexecution target processing and the execution target post-processing tothe control unit 702. The control unit 702 controls the networkcommunication unit 701 to transmit information representing theexecution target processing and the execution target post-processinginput from the operation unit 704 to the image capturing apparatus 110(step S1007).

The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 controls thenetwork communication unit 307 to receive the information representingthe execution target processing selected by the user from theinput/output apparatus 130 and determine whether the execution targetprocessing is processing included in the second processing list (stepS1008). If the execution target processing is not included in the secondprocessing list (NO in step S1008), the control unit 304 ends theprocessing shown in FIG. 10 without making a notification to thedetachable device 100 to execute the processing in the image capturingapparatus 110. On the other hand, if the execution target processing isincluded in the second processing list (YES in step S1008), the controlunit 304 controls the device communication unit 306 to transfer anexecution target processing setting request to the detachable device 100(step S1009).

The communication unit 502 of the detachable device 100 receives theexecution target processing setting request from the image capturingapparatus 110. At this time, the communication unit 502 can discriminatethe execution target processing setting request by the amount of datawritten from the image capturing apparatus 110 or the type of a writecommand. Details of the setting request discrimination method will bedescribed later. The communication unit 502 outputs the execution targetprocessing setting request received from the image capturing apparatus110 to the analysis unit 501. Based on the execution target processingsetting request input from the communication unit 502, the analysis unit501 executes setting to set the detachable device 100 in a state inwhich the execution target processing can be executed (step S1010). Forexample, after the completion of the setting processing, thecommunication unit 502 transmits a setting completion notification tothe image capturing apparatus 110 (step S1011). Note that thecommunication unit 502 need only notify information for inhibiting theimage capturing apparatus 110 from writing data at a timing at which thesetting of the detachable device 100 is not completed yet, and maynotify the image capturing apparatus 110 of the information of thesetting completion timing or the like before the setting is actuallycompleted. The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110controls the device communication unit 306 to receive the settingcompletion notification from the detachable device 100.

The setting completion notification from the detachable device 100 tothe image capturing apparatus 110 can be executed using, for example,one of the following three methods. In the first notification method,the communication unit 502 outputs a BUSY signal in a case in which thesetting of the execution target processing has not ended at the time ofwrite processing of the data of the first block from the image capturingapparatus 110. Output of the BUSY signal is performed by, for example,driving a signal line of DATA defined by the SD standard to a Low state.In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 confirms the BUSYsignal, thereby discriminating whether the setting of the executiontarget processing is completed. In the second notification method, thetime until setting of the execution target processing is completed isstored in advance at the above-described specific address, and the imagecapturing apparatus 110 reads out the information of the time until thesetting completion. After the elapse of the time until the executiontarget processing setting completion, the image capturing apparatus 110outputs write data (issues a write command). This allows the imagecapturing apparatus 110 to transmit the data of the captured image afterthe setting of the execution target processing is completed. In thethird notification method, when the setting of the execution targetprocessing is completed, the analysis unit 501 writes a settingcompletion flag at a second specific address of the detachable device100. The image capturing apparatus 110 reads out the data at the secondspecific address, thereby discriminating whether the setting of theexecution target processing is completed. Note that the information ofthe address at which the setting completion flag is written may bestored at the above-described specific address or may be stored atanother address.

As in the processing shown in FIG. 10, when the integrated processinglist determined depending on whether the detachable device 100 capableof executing specific processing is mounted in the image capturingapparatus 110 is used, the execution target processing can appropriatelybe determined in consideration of the state on the side of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. If the execution target processing includes aprocess to be executed by the detachable device 100, setting of thedetachable device 100 is automatically performed, thereby making apreparation for executing the processing selected by the user withoutperforming a setting operation by the user. If the execution targetprocessing does not include a process to be executed by the detachabledevice 100, setting of the detachable device 100 is not performed,thereby preventing setting of the detachable device 100 for beingunnecessarily performed in a case in which the processing is to beexecuted only by the image capturing apparatus 110.

(Execution Control of Analysis Processing)

FIG. 11 shows an example of the procedure of control when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes analysis processing. In thisprocessing, first, the image capturing control unit 301 captures theperipheral environment (step S1101). The control unit 304 controls thesignal processing unit 302 to process an image captured by the imagecapturing control unit 301 and obtain a captured image. After that, thecontrol unit 304 controls the analysis unit 305 to execute pre-analysisprocessing for the captured image input from the control unit 304 andobtain the image of the pre-analysis processing result (step S1102). Thecontrol unit 304 determines whether the execution target processing isincluded in the second processing list (step S1103).

Upon determining that the execution target processing is not included inthe second processing list (NO in step S1103), the control unit 304controls the analysis unit 305 to execute the execution targetprocessing for the image of the pre-analysis processing result in theimage capturing apparatus 110 (step S1104). The control unit 304controls the analysis unit 305 to execute post-analysis processing forthe analysis processing result (step S1108), and ends the processing.

If the execution target processing is included in the second processinglist (YES in step S1103), the control unit 304 controls the devicecommunication unit 306 to transmit the image of the pre-analysisprocessing result to the detachable device 100 (step S1105). Forexample, the control unit 304 issues a write request (write command) ofthe pre-analysis processing result, thereby transmitting the image ofthe pre-analysis processing result to the detachable device 100. Thecommunication unit 502 of the detachable device 100 receives the imageof the pre-analysis processing result from the image capturing apparatus110, and outputs the image received from the image capturing apparatus110 to the analysis unit 501. The analysis unit 501 executes theexecution target processing set in step S1010 of FIG. 10 for the imageinput from the communication unit 502 (step S1106). Then, thecommunication unit 502 transmits the analysis processing result obtainedby the processing of the analysis unit 501 to the image capturingapparatus 110 (step S1107). The control unit 304 of the image capturingapparatus 110 controls the device communication unit 306 to receive theanalysis processing result from the detachable device 100. After that,the control unit 304 controls the analysis unit 305 to executepost-analysis processing for the analysis processing result (stepS1108).

Transmission of the analysis processing result from the detachabledevice 100 to the image capturing apparatus 110 is done, for example, inthe following way. The analysis unit 501 of the detachable device 100stores the analysis processing result at the storage destination addressfor the analysis processing result, which is assigned for each executiontarget processing. The image capturing apparatus 110 reads outinformation representing the storage address of the analysis processingresult, which is stored at the address A together with, for example, thesecond processing list, and issues a read request (read command) for thestorage address. The detachable device 100 receives the read request forthe storage address of the analysis processing result via thecommunication unit 502, and outputs the analysis processing result tothe image capturing apparatus 110. Note that the image capturingapparatus 110 can issue the read request for the storage address of theanalysis processing result, for example, after the elapse of anestimated processing time stored at the address A. In addition, thedetachable device 100 may output a BUSY signal from the write request ofthe last block of the pre-analysis processing result transmitted fromthe image capturing apparatus 110 to the end of the execution targetprocessing. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 can issuethe read request for the storage address of the analysis processingresult when the BUSY signal is not received any more. This allows theimage capturing apparatus 110 to obtain the processing result after theend of the processing.

With the above-described processing, the image capturing apparatus 110can determine, in accordance with the selected execution targetprocessing, whether to transfer the captured image to the detachabledevice 100. It is therefore possible to execute analysis processing ofthe captured image while the user is not conscious of which one of theimage capturing apparatus 110 or the detachable device 100 shouldexecute analysis processing.

(Execution Control of Post-Processing)

FIG. 12 shows an example of the procedure of control when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 executes post-processing. In this processing,the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 determineswhether “display” is included in the execution target post-processing(step S1201). Upon determining that display is included in the executiontarget post-processing (YES in step S1201), the control unit 304controls the network communication unit 307 to transmit the result ofanalysis processing to the input/output apparatus 130 (step S1202). Thecontrol unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 controls the networkcommunication unit 701 to receive the result of analysis processing fromthe image capturing apparatus 110, and then controls the display unit703 to present the result of analysis processing to the user by screendisplay or the like (step S1203). On the other hand, if the control unit304 determines that display is not included in the execution targetpost-processing (NO in step S1201), the processes of steps S1202 andS1203 are not executed.

In addition, the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110determines whether “storage” is included in the execution targetpost-processing (step S1204). Note that the determination of step S1204may be executed before step S1201 or may be executed in parallel to thestep S1201. Upon determining that storage is included in the executiontarget post-processing (YES in step S1204), the control unit 304controls the storage unit 303 to store the result of analysis processingand ends the processing. On the other hand, upon determining thatstorage is not included in the execution target post-processing (NO instep S1204), the control unit 304 ends the processing without executingthe process of step S1205.

As described above, in accordance with the selected post-processing, theimage capturing apparatus 110 can execute transfer of the result ofanalysis processing to the input/output apparatus 130 or storage in thestorage unit 303 without accepting a special setting operation of theuser and improve the convenience.

(Communication Between Image Capturing Apparatus 110 and DetachableDevice 100)

Communication between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 will be described here. The arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the SD controller 403of the detachable device 100 are connected by a power supply line, a GNDline, a clock line, a command line, and a data line via the deviceinsertion socket of the SD I/F unit 205 of the image capturing apparatus110. Note that the clock line, the command line, and the data line areconnected via the FPGA 402. On the clock line, a synchronization clockoutput from the arithmetic processing unit 203 is communicated. On thecommand line, a command issued for an operation request from thearithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403 and a responseto the command from the SD controller 403 to the arithmetic processingunit 203 are communicated. On the data line, write data from thearithmetic processing unit 203 and read data from the detachable device100 are communicated. In addition, the arithmetic processing unit 203discriminates High and Low of a device detect signal of the deviceinsertion socket of the SD I/F unit 205, thereby recognizing whether thedetachable device 100 is inserted.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 issues a command to the SD controller403 on the command line after power supply. Upon receiving a responsefrom the SD controller 403 and output data representing deviceinformation as an SD card, the arithmetic processing unit 203 sets avoltage for data communication, a communication speed (clock frequency),and the like.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show the structures of a command and a responsecommunicated on the command line. The command and response havestructures complying with the SD standard. A command 1301 issued fromthe arithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403 isconfigured to include a command number part 1304, a command argumentpart 1305, and an error correction data part 1306. In the command numberpart 1304, a value indicating the type of the command is described. Forexample, if a value “23” is stored in the command number part 1304, thisindicates that the command is a block count designation command fordesignating the number of data blocks. If a value “25” is stored in thecommand number part 1304, this indicates that the command is amulti-write command. If a value “12” is stored in the command numberpart 1304, this indicates that the command is a data transfer stopcommand. In the command argument part 1305, pieces of information suchas the number of transfer data blocks and the write/read address of amemory are designated in accordance with the type of the command. Acommand start bit 1302 representing the start position of the command isadded to the first bit of the command, and a command end bit 1307representing the end of the command is added to the final bit of thecommand. Additionally, a direction bit 1303 representing that thecommand is a signal output from the image capturing apparatus 110 to thedetachable device 100 is also added after the command start bit 1302.

A response 1311 returned from the SD controller 403 in response to thecommand from the arithmetic processing unit 203 includes a responsenumber part 1314 representing for which command the response isreturned, a response argument part 1315, and an error correction datapart 1316. A response start bit 1312 representing the start position ofthe response is added to the first bit of the response, and a responseend bit 1317 representing the end position of the response is added tothe final bit of the response. Additionally, a direction bit 1313representing that the response is a signal output from the detachabledevice 100 to the image capturing apparatus 110 is also added after theresponse start bit 1312. In the response argument part 1315, pieces ofinformation such as the status of the SD card are stored in accordancewith the command type.

A method of transmitting/receiving data between the arithmeticprocessing unit 203 and the detachable device 100 will be describednext. In the SD I/F unit 205, data transfer is performed on a blockbasis in both data write and read.

The following two methods are used by the arithmetic processing unit 203to transfer the data of a plurality of blocks to the detachable device100. In the first method, after the number of blocks is designated by ablock count designation command for transfer data, data of thedesignated number of blocks are transferred by a multi-write command. Inthe block count designation command, the number of blocks of write datais designated by the command argument part 1305. In the multi-writecommand, the address of the storage unit 404 at which the data should bewritten is designated by the command argument part 1305. In the secondmethod, data transfer is started by issuing a multi-write commandwithout issuing a block count designation command. When the datatransfer ends, a transfer stop command is issued, thereby ending theprocessing. At this time, the command argument part 1305 of themulti-write command designates only the address of the storage unit 404at which the data should be written. The arithmetic processing unit 203can arbitrarily switch the two write methods.

Note that when performing storage processing, the FPGA 402 directlyinputs a command and data sent from the arithmetic processing unit 203to the SD controller 403, and the SD controller 403 stores the receiveddata at the address of the storage unit 404 designated by the command.When performing image analysis processing, the FPGA 402 executesanalysis processing for data sent from the arithmetic processing unit203, and outputs the data of the processing result and information fordesignating a predetermined address of the storage unit 404 to the SDcontroller 403. The SD controller 403 stores the processing result atthe designated address of the storage unit.

The following two methods are used by the arithmetic processing unit 203to read out the data of a plurality of blocks from the detachable device100. In the first method, after the number of blocks is designated by ablock count designation command, a multi-read command is issued, anddata of the designated number of blocks are read out. In the block countdesignation command, the number of blocks of read data is designated bythe command argument part 1305. The command argument part 1305 of themulti-read command designates the address of the memory of the data readsource. In the second method, data read is started by issuing amulti-read command without issuing a block count designation command,and the processing is ended by issuing a transfer stop command. Thearithmetic processing unit 203 can arbitrarily switch the two readmethods.

Note that if write data or read data is data of one block, asingle-write command or a single-read command is issued, therebyexecuting data write or read without issuing a block count designationcommand and a transfer stop command. In the single-write command and thesingle-read command as well, the command argument part 1305 designatesthe address of the storage unit 404 of the access target, as in theabove description.

The arithmetic processing unit 203 performs write to the detachabledevice 100, thereby transmitting data as the target of storageprocessing or image analysis processing to the detachable device 100. Inaddition, the arithmetic processing unit 203 performs read from thedetachable device 100, thereby obtaining image data stored in thestorage unit 404, a processing result of image analysis processing, andthe information of the image analysis processing function held by thedetachable device 100.

The detachable device 100 according to this embodiment stores theinformation of a processing function held by the self-device at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404. The arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110 can confirm theinformation of a processing function held by the detachable device 100by issuing a multi-read command or a single-read command to the addressA. The information of a processing function here includes informationrepresenting whether the device holds the processing function, a timerequired until completion when the processing is executed, the data sizeof a processing result, and the information of an address at which theprocessing result is stored. FIG. 14 shows an example of the informationof processing functions. A processing function holding flag 1401represents that the detachable device 100 has image analysis processingfunctions. The image capturing apparatus 110 confirms the processingfunction holding flag 1401, thereby determining whether the detachabledevice 100 has image analysis processing functions. A processingfunction class 1402 represents analysis processing held by thedetachable device 100. An input data size 1403 and a processing datacount 1404 represent information concerning the data inputspecifications of each processing function. An estimated processing time1405 represents a time needed from data into to processing resultoutput, and a processing result data count 1406 represents the number ofdata of a processing result. A processing result storage address 1407represents a location where the processing result is stored in thestorage unit 404. The arithmetic processing unit 203 reads out the dataat the address A of the storage unit 404 as shown in FIG. 14, therebyobtaining a processing function table as shown in FIG. 15.

If a read command to the address A is not issued by the arithmeticprocessing unit 203, the detachable device 100 judges that theself-device is a device that does not use an image analysis processingfunction. In this case, concerning data to be transferred, thedetachable device 100 can execute only storage processing for thestorage unit 404. Hence, for a device that does not need an imageanalysis processing function, the detachable device 100 can functiononly as a memory device. A method of storing the information ofprocessing functions at the specific address A of the storage unit 404has been described here. However, the present invention is not limitedto this. For example, the information of processing functions may beadded to the response argument part 1315 in a response to a command thatis used at the time of initialization of the detachable device 100.

Note that the image capturing apparatus 110 executes read of the addressA of the storage unit 404, for example, after the end of initializationof the detachable device 100. In addition, the image capturing apparatus110 discards the read information if the device is not detected in thesocket any more. If the device is inserted into the socket after theinformation is discarded, the image capturing apparatus 110 reads outthe value of the address A again after the end of initialization. Hence,if a different detachable device is inserted, the image capturingapparatus 110 can read and set the information of functions held by thedetachable device.

(Switching Control Between Storage Processing and Image AnalysisProcessing)

A method of automatically switching between storage processing and imageanalysis processing by the detachable device 100 will be described next.This processing is automatic determination processing of determiningwhether the detachable device 100 directly stores image data receivedfrom the image capturing apparatus 110 or performs image analysisprocessing for the image data. In an example, the image capturingapparatus 110 transmits a special command, thereby controlling which oneof storage of image data transmitted to the detachable device 100 andimage analysis processing for the image data should be executed by thedetachable device 100. However, it is not easy to define such a specialcommand because of the standard the detachable device 100 complies with.Hence, in this embodiment, processing to be executed by the detachabledevice 100 can be switched by the following method without defining aspecial command. Note that in the following processing example,communication between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 is performed by a method complying with the SDstandard. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Thatis, processing similar to processing to be described below can beexecuted using a command or the like according to a predeterminedstandard the detachable device 100 complies with.

[Control Based on Transfer Data Amount]

FIG. 16 shows an example of the procedure of control of automaticallyswitching between storage processing and image analysis processing basedon the number of data blocks to be transferred to the detachable device100.

First, the arithmetic processing unit 203 of the image capturingapparatus 110 issues a write command complying with the SD standard tothe detachable device 100, and transfers data (step S1601). The FPGA 402of the detachable device 100 determines whether the number of blocks ofthe data written by the arithmetic processing unit 203 matches the dataamount at the time of execution of image analysis processing (stepS1602). The FPGA 402 can identify the number of blocks of data byconfirming the number of data blocks described in the command argumentpart 1305 of a block count designation command. If the block countdesignation command is not issued, the FPGA 402 may identify the numberof blocks of data by counting the number of blocks transferred until adata transfer stop command is issued.

If the number of blocks of the data written by the arithmetic processingunit 203 matches the data amount at the time of execution of imageanalysis processing (YES in step S1602), the FPGA 402 executes imageanalysis processing for the transferred data (step S1603). The FPGA 402obtains the processing result (step S1604), issues a write command tothe SD controller 403, and stores the obtained processing result at theprocessing result storage address 1407 of the storage unit 404 accordingto the class of the analysis processing (step S1605). On the other hand,if the number of blocks of the data written by the arithmetic processingunit 203 does not match the data amount at the time of execution ofimage analysis processing (NO in step S1602), the transferred data isdirectly stored in the storage unit 404 (step S1606). For example, theFPGA 402 issues a command similar to the write command issued by thearithmetic processing unit 203 to the SD controller 403, and directlytransfers the transferred data. The SD controller 403 stores thetransferred data at the address of the storage unit 404 designated bythe write command.

The detachable device 100 holds information as shown in FIG. 15 at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404, and recognizes that, forexample, the number of input data when executing analysis processing Ais 20 blocks. For this reason, if the number of blocks of data writtenby the arithmetic processing unit 203 is 20 blocks, the FPGA 402executes the analysis processing A, and otherwise, does not execute theanalysis processing A. Note that the FPGA 402 may change the executiontarget analysis processing in accordance with the number of input blockssuch that, for example, if the number of blocks of data written by thearithmetic processing unit 203 is 40 blocks, the FPGA 402 executesanalysis processing C.

[Control Based on Write Address]

FIG. 17 shows an example of the procedure of control of switchingbetween storage processing and image analysis processing based on awrite address designated by the command argument part 1305 of a writecommand. In this processing as well, the arithmetic processing unit 203of the image capturing apparatus 110 issues a write command to the SDcontroller 403 (step S1701). The FPGA 402 determines whether a writeaddress designated by the command argument part 1305 and representing aninformation storage destination in the storage unit 404 matches theprocessing result storage address 1407 shown in FIG. 14 (step S1702). Ifthe write address designated by the command argument part 1305 matchesthe processing result storage address 1407 (YES in step S1702), the FPGA402 executes image analysis processing corresponding to the address forthe transferred data (step S1703). The FPGA 402 obtains the processingresult (step S1704), issues a write command to the SD controller 403,and stores the obtained processing result at the processing resultstorage address 1407 of the storage unit 404 (step S1705). On the otherhand, if the write address designated by the command argument part 1305does not match the processing result storage address 1407 (NO in stepS1702), the FPGA 402 directly stores the transferred data in the storageunit 404 (step S1706). For example, the FPGA 402 issues a commandsimilar to the write command issued by the arithmetic processing unit203 to the SD controller 403, and directly transfers the transferreddata. The SD controller 403 stores the transferred data at the addressof the storage unit 404 designated by the write command.

The detachable device 100 holds information as shown in FIG. 15 at thespecific address A of the storage unit 404, and recognizes that, forexample, an analysis result storage address at the time of execution ofthe analysis processing A should be 0xFFFFFFFF. For this reason, if thewrite address designated by the command obtained from the arithmeticprocessing unit 203 is 0xFFFFFFFF, the FPGA 402 executes the analysisprocessing A, and otherwise, does not execute the analysis processing A.Note that the FPGA 402 may change the execution target analysisprocessing in accordance with the write address designated by thecommand such that, for example, if the write address designated by thecommand obtained from the arithmetic processing unit 203 is 0xEEEEEEEE,the FPGA 402 executes analysis processing C.

As described above, the detachable device 100 can determine, based onthe number of blocks or the write destination address of data written bythe arithmetic processing unit 203, whether to perform image analysisprocessing or directly store the data. Note that the detachable device100 may determine, in accordance with the combination of the number ofblocks and the write destination address of data written by thearithmetic processing unit 203, whether to perform image analysisprocessing or directly store the data. For example, if both the numberof blocks and the write destination address of data match the processingdata count 1404 and the processing result storage address 1407, imageanalysis processing may be executed. In addition, if at least one of thenumber of blocks and the write destination address of data does notmatch the processing data count 1404 or the processing result storageaddress 1407 of any image analysis processing, storage processing can beexecuted.

With the above-described processing, the detachable device 100 canperform image analysis processing for data for which image analysisprocessing should be executed and store data that should be storedwithout executing image analysis processing without introducing anadditional procedure for instructing whether to execute image analysisprocessing. Since this can prevent the system from becoming complex andobviate the necessity of executing an additional procedure, imageanalysis processing can quickly be started.

Note that the processing shown in FIG. 17 may be executed in combinationwith the processing shown in FIG. 16. That is, if the number of blocksof image data and the storage destination address of information arevalues associated with image analysis processing, the image analysisprocessing may be executed.

Note that when performing image analysis processing, not only theprocessing result but also the transferred data as the target ofanalysis processing may be stored together in an area of the storageunit 404 different from the processing result storage address 1407.Additionally, in the above-described control, if the detachable device100 has a plurality of image analysis processing functions, the type ofimage analysis processing to be executed may be determined in accordancewith the number of write blocks or the write address of data. Forexample, if the number of blocks or the write destination address ofdata matches the processing data count 1404 or the processing resultstorage address 1407 for certain image analysis processing of theplurality of image analysis processing functions, the image analysisprocessing can be executed.

[Control Based on Command]

FIG. 18 shows an example of basic processing of the procedure of controlof switching between storage processing and image analysis processingbased on a command. In the SD standard, a first protocol that writesdata after a block count designation command is issued, and a secondprotocol that writes data without issuing a block count designationcommand are provided as protocols when writing data. Note that thesecond protocol issues a data transfer stop command when ending datawrite. In this processing example, image analysis processing is executedbased on data transmission by the first protocol, and when data istransmitted by the second protocol, storage processing of storing imagedata in the storage unit 404 is executed without executing imageanalysis processing. Hence, the FPGA 402 of the detachable device 100determines, depending on whether a block count designation command isissued for transmission of image data, whether to execute image analysisprocessing.

In this processing as well, first, the arithmetic processing unit 203 ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 issues a write command to thedetachable device 100, and transfers data (step S1801). Here, the FPGA402 of the detachable device 100 determines whether a block countdesignation command is issued (step S1802). If a block count designationcommand is issued (YES in step S1802), the FPGA 402 executes imageanalysis processing for the transferred data (step S1803), and obtainsthe processing result (step S1804). The FPGA 402 designates apredetermined processing result storage address according to the classof analysis processing shown in FIG. 14 and issues a write command tothe SD controller 403, thereby storing the data of the processing resultin the storage unit 404 (step S1805). If a block count designationcommand is not issued (NO in step S1802), the FPGA 402 issues a writecommand similar to the command issued by the arithmetic processing unit203 to the SD controller 403. The FPGA 402 directly transmits thetransferred data to the SD controller 403. The SD controller 403 storesthe data at the address of the storage unit 404 designated by the writecommand from the FPGA 402 (step S1806).

Note that the block count designation command may be anotherpredetermined command. That is, a predetermined command serving as atrigger to execute image analysis processing is set in advance, and theFPGA 402 executes image analysis processing for input image data basedon at least reception of the predetermined command. Alternatively,another information capable of identifying the protocol to be used maybe used. Note that, for example, upon receiving a predetermined command,the FPGA 402 may execute the processing shown in FIG. 16 or 17 todetermine whether to execute image analysis processing for input imagedata.

As described above, by instructing execution of image analysisprocessing by a command such as a block count designation command, theimage capturing apparatus 110 can instruct processing to be executed bythe detachable device 100 within the range of the protocol complyingwith the SD standard.

Note that as the existing commands of the SD standard, only 64 types ofcommands can be defined at maximum. Since basic commands used in ageneral SD card already exist, there remains no sufficient room to newlydefine commands for, for example, image analysis processing. On theother hand, in the SD standard, an application command is issued,thereby using a command of contents specific to an application by acommand issued next. For example, an application command can be acommand in which the value of the command number part 1304 is “55”. Thesecond command issued after the transmission of the command whosecommand number part 1304 has a value “55” is handled as a commandspecified to the application. At this time, in the second command, evenif a value indicating a general-purpose command defined by theconventional SD standard is stored in the command number part 1304, thesecond command is handled as a command for instructing a predeterminedoperation specific to the application. For example, if a value “25” isstored in the command number part 1304, it is generally indicated thatthe command is a multi-write command, as described above. On the otherhand, in the second command issued after the transmission of the commandwhose command number part 1304 has a value “55”, the value of thecommand number part 1304 is set to “25”, and this can instruct anoperation specific to the application, which is not a multi-writecommand. That is, even if the same value is stored in the command numberpart 1304 of a given command, the command can be handled as a command ofa different significance depending on whether to issue an applicationcommand immediately before.

Processing to be executed by the detachable device 100 can be switchedusing the handling of the command. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2003-196613 describes changing, using an application command, which oneof the user data area and the secure area of a detachable device is tobe accessed. In this embodiment, for example, if a write command isissued after issuance of an application command, the detachable device100 can execute image analysis processing as a command specific to theapplication. On the other hand, if a write command is issued withoutissuance of an application command, the detachable device 100 canexecute storage processing of storing image data in the storage unit 404as a write command of the SD standard. As described above, the FPGA 402of the detachable device 100 can determine whether to execute imageanalysis processing depending on whether an application command isissued to transmit image data. According to this, by a method differentfrom the procedure shown in FIG. 18, the image capturing apparatus 110can switch, by a transmitted command, which one of storage processingand image analysis processing is to be executed by the detachable device100.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-196613,any other command is never generated during the period from thetransmission of the application command to the transmission of thesubsequent command. On the other hand, in this embodiment, for example,storage processing of an image captured by the image capturing apparatus110 in the detachable device 100 and image processing by the detachabledevice 100 can be executed in parallel. That is, the arithmeticprocessing unit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110 can parallellyrequest image analysis processing and storage processing from thedetachable device 100. In this case, interruption of another command forimage write may occur between, for example, an application command forimage analysis processing and a subsequent command specific to theapplication. At this time, the other interruption command may beinterpreted as a command specific to the application in the detachabledevice 100, and an unintended operation may occur. For example, in theabove-described example, a command transmitted as a write command of theconventional SD standard may be handled as an execution command of imageanalysis processing. Also, in this case, a command transmitted as acommand specific to the application after that may be handled as a writecommand of the conventional SD standard. Note that to prevent issuanceof such an interruption command, the software of the image capturingapparatus 110 can be updated. However, if the image capturing apparatus110 that cannot update software exists, such a measure cannot be taken.

Hence, the arithmetic processing unit 203 of the image capturingapparatus 110 embeds interruption determination data in a command,thereby determining whether a command transmitted after an applicationcommand is a command specific to the application. The interruptiondetermination data is, for example, data such as a bit string includinga predetermined number of bits, and this is identification informationrepresenting that a group of commands are associated with oneprocessing. When common interruption determination data is included inan application command and a command specific to the application, whichis transmitted after that, it is indicated that the command specific tothe application is associated with the application command transmittedbefore that. This allows the detachable device 100 to discriminate thatthe command transmitted by interruption is not associated with theapplication command, and the command can thus be handled as a command ofthe conventional SD standard. Note that, for example, a partial area ofthe command argument part 1305 in FIG. 13 can be assigned to transmitthe interruption determination data. In this case, the detachable device100 temporarily stores the value stored in the partial area of thecommand argument part 1305 of an application command, and determineswhether the same value is stored in the partial area of the commandargument part 1305 of a command received later. If the same value isstored in the partial area of the command argument part 1305 of thecommand received later, the detachable device 100 determines that thecommand is a command specific to the application, and executesprocessing according to the command. On the other hand, if the samevalue is not stored in the partial area of the command argument part1305 of the command received later, the detachable device 100 determinesthat the command is a command transmitted by interruption and is not acommand specific to the application. In this case, the detachable device100 handles the command as a general-purpose command.

An example of the procedure of processing of determining whether toexecute image analysis processing depending on whether an applicationcommand is issued will be described here with reference to FIG. 19. Inthis processing example, if a write command is issued after issuance ofan application command, as described above, the write command is handledas a command specific to the application, and the detachable device 100executes image analysis processing. On the other hand, if a writecommand is issued without issuance of an application command, the writecommand is handled as a command of the conventional SD standard, and thedetachable device 100 executes storage processing of storing image datain the storage unit 404. Note that it is assumed here that, for example,the data length of the area of the command argument part 1305 shown inFIG. 13 is 32 bits, and 16 bits of these are used for interruptiondetermination data. That is, the data length of the command argumentpart 1305 is reduced to 16 bits, and the remaining 16 bits are used asinterruption determination data. FIG. 20 shows an example of thestructure of a command in this case. In an example, a 16-bitinterruption determination data part 2002 is arranged between a 16-bitcommand argument part 2001 and the error correction data part 1306. Notethat this is merely an example, and, for example, the 16-bitinterruption determination data part 2002 may be arranged between thecommand number part 1304 and the command argument part 2001. Inaddition, for example, the interruption determination data part 2002 maybe arranged between an n-bit (1≤n≤15) first command argument part and a(16-n)-bit second command argument part. The interruption determinationdata part 2002 may be arranged at another position. Note that the datalength of the interruption determination data part 2002 may be shorterthan 16 bits or may be longer. That is, as long as the settingconcerning the position to arrange the interruption determination datapart 2002 is shared between the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, the interruption determination data part 2002 canbe included in the command in any way. Note that data to be stored inthe interruption determination data part 2002 can be generated as arandom bit string every time an application command is issued.

In this processing as well, first, the arithmetic processing unit 203 ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 issues a write command to thedetachable device 100, and transfers data (step S1901), as in theprocessing shown in FIG. 18. The FPGA 402 of the detachable device 100determines whether an application command is issued before an issuedwrite command (step S1902).

If an application command is issued (YES in step S1902), the FPGA 402determines whether the interruption determination data part 2002 of theapplication command and the interruption determination data part 2002 ofthe write command match (step S1903). If the interruption determinationdata parts 2002 of the application command and the write command match(YES in step S1903), the FPGA 402 executes image analysis processing forthe transferred data (step S1904), and obtains the processing result(step S1905). The FPGA 402 designates a predetermined processing resultstorage address according to the class of analysis processing shown inFIG. 14 and issues a write command to the SD controller 403, therebystoring the data of the processing result in the storage unit 404 (stepS1906).

On the other hand, if an application command is not issued immediatelybefore (NO in step S1902), the FPGA 402 processes the command receivedin step S1901 as a write command of the existing SD standard (stepS1907). If the interruption determination data part 2002 of theapplication command and the interruption determination data part of thewrite command do not match (NO in step S1903), the FPGA 402 determinesthat the write command is an interruption command. In this case, theFPGA 402 processes the command received in step S1901 as a write commandof the existing SD standard (step S1907). In step S1907, the FPGA 402issues, to the SD controller 403, a write command similar to the commandissued from the arithmetic processing unit 203. The FPGA 402 directlytransmits the transferred data to the SD controller 403. The SDcontroller 403 stores the data at the address of the storage unit 404designated by the write command from the FPGA 402.

Note that the FPGA 402 may divisionally receive the data of the commandargument part 1305. For example, if a command structure as shown in FIG.20 is used, the FPGA 402 may combine the 16-bit command argument part2001 of the application command and the 16-bit command argument part2001 of the write command and handle these as 32-bit data. That is, theimage capturing apparatus 110 can divide one data into a plurality of(two, in this case) partial data, store different partial data in thecommand argument parts 2001 with a reduced data length in the twocommands associated with each other, and output the data.

Note that in place of the above-described write command, anotherpredetermined command or a combination of predetermined commands may beused. That is, if a predetermined command serving as a trigger toexecute image analysis processing is set in advance, the FPGA 402executes image analysis processing of input image data based on at leastreception of the predetermined command after reception of an applicationcommand. Alternatively, another information capable of specifying aprotocol to be used may be used. Note that, for example, if the commandis received, the FPGA 402 may execute the processes shown in FIGS. 16 to19 and determine whether to execute image analysis processing for inputimage data.

As described above, if a command such as an application commandindicates that image analysis processing should be executed, the imagecapturing apparatus 110 can instruct processing to be executed to thedetachable device 100 within the range of a protocol complying with theSD standard. Note that in the above-described example, an example inwhich one command specific to the application is transmitted after oneapplication command has been described. However, the present inventionis not limited to this. For example, a plurality of application commandsmay be transmitted, and a plurality of commands specific to theapplication may be transmitted. That is, three or more commands that areassociated with each other and correspond to one processing may be usedas a combination. This can increase the types of usable commands. Forexample, a command specific to the application can be defined by two ormore commands transmitted after a command whose command number part 1304has a value “55”. In this case, common interruption determination datais stored in the plurality of commands. Hence, even if an interruptioncommand is transmitted until three or more commands that are associatedwith each other and correspond to one processing are transmitted, thedetachable device 100 can recognize that the command is an interruptioncommand.

It can be said that at least a part of the above-described processing isprocessing of determining whether to execute image analysis processingdepending on whether a command complying with the SD standard fortransmission of image data includes a value associated with imageanalysis processing executable by the FPGA 402. That is, in theprocessing shown in FIG. 16, image analysis processing is executed when“23” is stored in the command number part 1304, and a value indicating apredetermined number of blocks is stored in the command argument part1305. In the processing shown in FIG. 17, image analysis processing isexecuted when a value indicating a processing result storage address isstored in the command argument part 1305. In the processing shown inFIG. 18, image analysis processing is executed when “23” is stored inthe command number part 1304. In the processing shown in FIG. 19, if“23” is stored in the command number part 1304 of a received command,and “55” is stored in the command number part 1304 of the applicationcommand issued immediately before, image analysis processing isexecuted. As described above, by setting the contents of the command atthe time of transmission of image data to a predetermined valueassociated with image analysis processing, it is possible to flexiblycontrol, using a command complying with the SD standard, which one ofimage analysis processing and storage processing should be executed bythe FPGA 402.

(Read of Processing Result)

A method of reading out, by the image capturing apparatus 110, theprocessing result of image analysis processing stored in the detachabledevice 100 will be described next. The arithmetic processing unit 203designates the processing result storage address 1407 shown in FIG. 14in the detachable device 100, and issues a read command to read out dataas many as the processing result data count 1406 of each analysisprocessing. The SD controller 403 receives the read command via the FPGA402, and outputs the data of the processing result stored at thedesignated address of the storage unit 404 to the arithmetic processingunit 203 of the image capturing apparatus 110. This allows the imagecapturing apparatus 110 to obtain the processing result of imageanalysis processing.

(Presentation of Information to User and Acceptance of User Selection)

Examples of presentation of a captured image, an integrated processinglist, and post-processing list to the user and a method of acceptinguser selection will be described. FIG. 21 shows an example of screendisplay of a captured image, an integrated processing list, and apost-processing list via the display unit 703. By the display screen,for example, a user interface 2101 is displayed. The user interface 2101includes, for example, a captured image display area 2102, an integratedprocessing list display area 2103, and a post-processing list displayarea 2104. The user confirms these areas, thereby ascertaining thecaptured image, the integrated processing list, and the post-processinglist.

Note that the list to be displayed is not limited to only the integratedprocessing list. For example, the image capturing apparatus 110 canstore a second processing list for a certain detachable device 100 inthe storage unit 303 and transmit the second processing list stored inthe storage unit 303 to the input/output apparatus 130 even if thedetachable device 100 is not mounted. That is, the image capturingapparatus 110 may output the second processing list for the detachabledevice 100 mounted in the past. In this case, the input/output apparatus130 can display analysis processing that is included in the secondprocessing list but not in the integrated processing list in a gray-outstate as analysis processing that is enabled by mounting the detachabledevice 100. It is therefore possible to promote the user to mount thedetachable device 100 in the image capturing apparatus 110 to make theprocessing in the gray-out state executable. Additionally, for example,if the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 haveidentical processing functions, these can be integrated and displayed asone process. In this case, the image capturing apparatus 110 candetermine which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 executes the processing. This determination methodwill be described later.

Note that the input/output apparatus 130 may display analysis processingand post-processing displayed for the user such that the user canidentify which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 should perform each processing. For example, whencreating an integrated processing list, the image capturing apparatus110 makes the integrated processing list include informationrepresenting which one of the first processing list and the secondprocessing list includes each analysis processing included in theintegrated processing list. In accordance with the informationrepresenting which one of the first processing list and the secondprocessing list includes each analysis processing included in theintegrated processing list, the input/output apparatus 130 displays eachanalysis processing while changing the character color. This allows theuser to confirm whether each processing is processing executable even ifthe detachable device 100 is removed. Note that if the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can execute identicalprocesses, and these are integrated and displayed as one process, thisprocess can be displayed in a character color corresponding to the imagecapturing apparatus 110. This is because the process can be executedeven if the detachable device 100 is removed. However, the presentinvention is not limited to this, and processing may be displayed in acharacter color representing that it is processing executable by boththe image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100.

In addition, if processing that is executable when the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 cooperate is included in theintegrated processing list, for the processing, information representingthe necessity of cooperation may be included in the integratedprocessing list. In this case, processing implemented when the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 cooperate may bedisplayed in a still another character color. For example, faceauthentication processing can be implemented by a function group of aface detection processing function, a face characteristic extractionprocessing function, and a face characteristic collation processingfunction. It is assumed that the image capturing apparatus 110 has theface detection processing function and the face characteristicextraction processing function, and the detachable device 100 has theface characteristic collation processing function. In this case, on theuser interface 2101, for example, the face detection processing and theface characteristic extraction processing are displayed by bluecharacters, the face characteristic collation processing is displayed byred characters, and the face authentication processing is displayed bygreen characters.

Note that changing the character color is merely a form configured todisplay the functions such that which one of the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 should execute the functionsor whether a function is executed by cooperation of these can bedistinguished. Such distinguishable display may be done by another form.For example, the execution constituent of processing may explicitly bedisplayed by changing the background color of each processing. Inaddition, the difference of the execution constituent may be indicatedby a character string. For example, a character string indicating theimage capturing apparatus 110 can be added after a character stringindicating processing to be executed by the image capturing apparatus110, and a character string indicating the detachable device 100 can beadded after a character string indicating processing to be executed bythe detachable device 100. To a character string indicating processingimplemented by cooperation of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, a character string indicating cooperation of theimage capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can beadded. As described above, the image capturing apparatus 110 provides,to the input/output apparatus 130, information representing processesincluded in the first processing list and processes included in thesecond processing list in a distinguishable manner, thereby causing thedisplay unit 703 of the input/output apparatus 130 to display theexecution constituent of each process in a distinguishable manner. Evenif the image capturing apparatus 110 includes a display unit, theexecution constituent of each process can be displayed in adistinguishable manner by preparing information representing processesincluded in the first processing list and processes included in thesecond processing list in a distinguishable manner. That is, byoutputting the information representing processes included in the firstprocessing list and processes included in the second processing list ina distinguishable manner, the image capturing apparatus 110 can cause anarbitrary display device to display the execution constituent of eachprocess in a distinguishable manner.

The user can select execution target processing from the integratedprocessing list displayed in the integrated processing list display area2103 of the user interface 2101 via the operation unit 704. In addition,the user can select execution target post-processing from the processinglist displayed in the post-processing list display area 2104 via theoperation unit 704. For example, FIG. 21 shows an example in which theuser selects “face detection” processing as execution target analysisprocessing, and selects “display” and “storage” as execution targetpost-processing. Note that in this embodiment, an example in which onlyone execution target processing is selected is shown. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. The system may be configuredto allow the user to select a plurality of execution target processes.For example, in addition to “face detection”, at least one of “humanbody detection” and “vehicle detection” may be selected. If one processis selected, selection of another process may be inhibited. As anexample, if “human body detection” is selected in a state in which “facedetection” is selected in the integrated processing list display area2103 shown in FIG. 21, selection of “face detection” may be canceled.FIG. 21 shows an example in which both of two post-processes areselected. However, only one of them may be selectable.

Based on the selection of execution target processing andpost-processing by the user, the image capturing apparatus 110 isnotified of the selection result in step S1007 of FIG. 10. In addition,the control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 may confirm thestate of user selection for every predetermined period and notify theimage capturing apparatus 110 of execution target processing dependingon which processing is selected as the execution target. That is, theprocesses of steps S1005 to S1007 may periodically be executed, orselection in steps S1005 and S1006 may always be monitored, and theprocess of step S1007 may be executed when the selection state haschanged.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a method of displaying information in stepS1203 in a case in which “face detection” is selected as the executiontarget processing, and “display” is selected as the execution targetpost-processing. In this example, the number 2201 of persons detected byface detection processing is displayed as the result of analysisprocessing on the screen of the user interface 2101 shown in FIG. 21.Note that FIG. 22 is merely an example, and the result of processing maybe displayed separately from the user interface 2101, and the result ofprocessing may be displayed in another area of the user interface 2101.

In addition, a priority may be set for each of the execution targetprocessing and post-processing selected by the user. For example, if aplurality of execution target processes exist, and priorities are set,the control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 executesprocessing (for example, the processes of steps S1103 to S1107) shown inFIG. 11 for each execution target process in the order of priorities.Note that the calculation resource or network resource on the side ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 may be assigned based on the priority.For example, a process of high priority may be executed for a video forevery first predetermined number of frames, and a process of lowpriority may be executed for the video for every second predeterminednumber of frames, which is larger than the first predetermined number offrames. That is, the frequency of executing processing may be determinedby priority. In addition, the frequency of transmitting the result ofprocessing of high priority to the input/output apparatus 130 may behigher than the frequency of transmitting the result of processing oflow priority to the input/output apparatus 130.

(Processing of Determining Processing Allocation Between Image CapturingApparatus and Detachable Device)

When a plurality of processes are combined, a predetermined process maybecome executable. For example, face authentication processing can beexecuted by combining three processes, that is, face detectionprocessing, face characteristic extraction processing, and facecharacteristic collation processing. If the image capturing apparatus110 and the detachable device 100 can execute at least one of the threeprocesses, the processes can be allocated between the apparatuses andexecuted. Additionally, in the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100, for example, for at least one of the threeprocesses described above, different processing functions suitable foreach condition such as a condition (for example, an image capturingcondition) under which data as the processing target is obtained or ananalysis target can be prepared. For example, different processingfunctions may be prepared for processing for an image captured indaytime and processing for an image captured in nighttime. For example,as shown in FIG. 23, the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 are configured to have the face detectionprocessing function, the face characteristic extraction processingfunction, and the face characteristic collation processing function andexecute face authentication processing. Note that even if the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 have the samefunctions, suitable conditions to use them can be different. Inaddition, each of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 may have a plurality of processing functions capable ofexecuting similar processes, like the detachable device 100 shown inFIG. 23, which has two face characteristic extraction processingfunctions. Accordingly, when processing is appropriately allocatedbetween the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100,processing suitable for various conditions can be executed.

Note that even if the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 perform the same processing, advantages and disadvantagesoccur because of the difference in the arrangement. For example,concerning the operation accuracy, the arithmetic processing unit 203 ofthe image capturing apparatus 110 can be advantageous because the bitwidth with respect to data is large. Concerning the operation speed, thedetachable device 100 can be advantageous because the operation isperformed by the logic circuit on the FPGA 402. If there exist aplurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing, it is advantageous to select an appropriate processingfunction based on the environment of image capturing of the imagecapturing apparatus 110. Considering such circumstances, if thedetachable device 100 has a processing function, it is important toappropriately determine whether to actually use the processing functionand appropriately select a processing function to be used. Hence, amethod of automatically selecting whether to cause the detachable device100 to execute processing, whether to cause the image capturingapparatus 110 to execute processing, or whether to cause the imagecapturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 to cooperativelyexecute processing will be described below. In addition, a method ofautomatically selecting a processing function to be used by, forexample, determining which one of a plurality of processing functionsshould be used in a case in which the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 have a plurality of processing functionscapable of executing the same processing will also be described. Notethat three processing examples will individually be described below, andthese may be used in combination.

First Processing Example

The first processing example of selecting a processing function to beused will be described with reference to FIG. 24. In this example, tosatisfy performance necessary for performing image analysis processing,a processing function to be used is selected from processing functionsprovided in the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device100. For example, this processing can be executed in a case in whichthere is a condition that, for example, processing needs to be performedat a predetermined frame rate or higher, and both the image capturingapparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 can execute the sameprocessing.

In this processing, first, the user selects execution target processingvia, for example, the user interface 2101 shown in FIG. 21 on theinput/output apparatus 130 (step S2401). Based on the user selection,the control unit 702 of the input/output apparatus 130 transmits anexecution instruction command for the execution target processing to theimage capturing apparatus 110. The control unit 304 of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 obtains the execution instruction commandrepresenting the selected process from the input/output apparatus 130.Note that if the image capturing apparatus 110 has an informationpresentation function of presenting executable processing and anoperation acceptance function of causing the user to make a selection,the user may directly operate the image capturing apparatus 110 andinstruct the execution target processing to the control unit 304 of theimage capturing apparatus 110.

The control unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 confirmsprocessing performance needed when executing the selected processing(step S2402). As for the setting of the processing performance, a setvalue may be determined in advance for each processing, or the user mayset a target value when selecting processing. The control unit 304executes, in the image capturing apparatus 110, the processing selectedin step S2401 (step S2403). Note that this processing can be executed inparallel to image capturing. In addition, a function that exists only inthe detachable device 100 in the processing functions to be used whenexecuting the selected processing is executed by the detachable device100 but not executed in the image capturing apparatus 110.

During execution of the processing of after completion of processing ofa predetermined amount of data, the control unit 304 confirms whetherthe executed processing satisfies the processing performance set in stepS2402 (step S2404). Upon confirming that the processing performance issatisfied (YES in step S2404), the control unit 304 returns the processto step S2403 to directly continue the processing. On the other hand,upon confirming that the processing performance is not satisfied (NO instep S2404), the control unit 304 advances the process to step S2405 toattempt a change to a processing allocation capable of satisfying theprocessing performance.

In step S2405, concerning processing that is a part of the processingexecuted by the image capturing apparatus 110 and is executable even inthe detachable device 100, the execution constituent is changed to thedetachable device 100. Since processes executable by the detachabledevice 100 are ascertained, the control unit 304 of the image capturingapparatus 110 selects processing to be transferred to the detachabledevice 100 from the list (second processing list) of processes andchanges the execution constituent of the processing. When the change iscompleted, the processing selected in step S2401 is allocated to thecontrol unit 304 and the analysis unit 501 and executed (step S2406).After that, the control unit 304 confirms whether to return theprocessing function from the detachable device 100 to the imagecapturing apparatus 110 (step S2407). When the processing is returned tothe image capturing apparatus 110, the processing can be executed at ahigher operation accuracy.

If, for example, the reason why it is determined in step S2404 that theprocessing performance cannot be satisfied is a temporary high loadstate or the like, and the state is eliminated, the control unit 304 candetermine that the process can be returned to the image capturingapparatus 110. That is, the control unit 304 can determine, based on theprocessing load of the image capturing apparatus 110, which one of theimage capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 shouldexecute the processing. Note that in addition to causing the detachabledevice 100 to execute processing in a state in which the processing loadof the image capturing apparatus 110 is high, as described above, theimage capturing apparatus 110 may be caused to execute processing in astate in which the processing load of the detachable device 100 is high.That is, which one of the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 should execute processing may be determined basedon the processing load of the detachable device 100.

Additionally, if, for example, the target value of the processingperformance is lowered by the user, the control unit 304 can determinethat the processing can be returned to the image capturing apparatus110. Upon determining to return the processing to the image capturingapparatus 110 (YES in step S2407), the control unit 304 changes theexecution constituent of the part of the processing, which has beenexecuted by the detachable device 100, to the image capturing apparatus110 (step S2408). Note that the processing whose execution constituentis returned to the image capturing apparatus 110 in step S2408 may be apart or whole of the processing whose execution constituent was changedto the detachable device 100 in step S2405. After the executionconstituent of at least the part of the processing is returned to theimage capturing apparatus 110, the control unit 304 returns the processto step S2403. On the other hand, upon determining not to return theprocessing to the image capturing apparatus 110 (NO in step S2407), thecontrol unit 304 returns the process to step S2406 and continues theprocessing without changing the processing allocation.

Note that in a case in which the detachable device 100 has a pluralityof processing functions capable of executing the same processing, if theprocessing performance cannot be satisfied after the executionconstituent of the part of the processing is transferred to thedetachable device 100, the processing function may be switched to theprocessing function for executing the same function. That is, in stepS2407, instead of switching the execution constituent of the processing,the processing function to be used may be changed while keeping thedetachable device 100 as the execution constituent.

In addition, even after the execution constituent of the part of theprocessing is transferred to the detachable device 100, if theprocessing performance confirmed in step S2402 cannot be satisfied, thecontrol unit 304 may return the execution constituent of the processingto the image capturing apparatus 110. At this time, the control unit 304can store information representing the processing performance confirmedin step S2402 as the information of the processing performance thatcannot be satisfied by the current mounted detachable device 100. Ifsimilar processing performance or stricter processing performance isrequired, the control unit 304 may not cause the detachable device 100to execute the processing. Similarly, for example, even in a situationin which the processing load of the image capturing apparatus 110 issufficiently small, if the processing performance confirmed in stepS2402 cannot be satisfied, the information of the processing performancemay be stored. In this case, in the subsequent processing, if the storedprocessing performance or stricter processing performance is confirmedin step S2402, the control unit 304 may transfer the executionconstituent of a part of the processing on the detachable device 100without executing the process of step S2403.

According to the first processing example, processing functions providedin the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100 areselected, and processing is allocated between the apparatuses andexecuted to satisfy required processing performance. This makes itpossible to perform appropriate processing allocation in accordancewith, for example, the state of the image capturing apparatus 110 andmaintain satisfactory processing performance.

Second Processing Example

The second processing example of selecting a processing function to beused will be described next with reference to FIG. 25. This processingis executed when selecting a processing function to be used in a case inwhich the detachable device 100 has a plurality of processing functionscapable of executing the same processing. Note that this processing canbe executed in a case in which, for example, it is determined to causethe detachable device 100 to execute some processes in the firstprocessing example. That is, when the detachable device 100 executesprocessing, this processing can be used by the detachable device 100 todetermine which one of one or more processing functions capable ofexecuting the processing should be used. However, this is merely anexample, and processing allocation between the image capturing apparatus110 and the detachable device 100 may be determined by this processingexample. For example, if a plurality of processing functions capable ofexecuting the same processing exist in an integrated processing list inwhich processes executable by the image capturing apparatus 110 and thedetachable device 100 are integrated, this processing example may beused to determine which one of the processing functions should be used.That is, if each of the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachabledevice 100 has one or more processing functions capable of executing thesame processing, this processing example can be used to determine whichprocessing function should be used to execute process in whichapparatus.

In this processing, first, as in step S2401 of FIG. 24, the user selectsexecution target processing on the input/output apparatus 130, and thecontrol unit 304 of the image capturing apparatus 110 obtainsinformation representing the selected processing from the input/outputapparatus 130 (step S2501). The control unit 304 confirms the list(second processing list) of processes executable by the detachabledevice 100, and confirms, for the execution target processing, whether aplurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing exist (step S2502). Upon determining that only one processingfunction capable of executing the execution target processing exists (NOin step S2502), the control unit 304 executes the processing using theprocessing function (step S2503). On the other hand, upon determiningthat a plurality of processing functions capable of executing theexecution target processing exist (YES in step S2502), the control unit304 advances the process to step S2504 to execute the processing usingone of the plurality of processing functions.

In step S2504, the control unit 304 confirms the characteristic of eachof the plurality of processing functions capable of executing the sameprocessing that is the determination target of step S2502. Here,concerning, for example, face characteristic extraction, characteristicsrepresenting that a first processing function is suitable for processingan image of a relatively high brightness in daytime and a secondprocessing function is suitable for processing an image of a relativelylow brightness in nighttime are confirmed. After the difference betweenthe characteristics of the processing functions is confirmed, thecontrol unit 304 confirms the current environment in which the imagecapturing apparatus 110 is performing image capturing (step S2505).Based on the characteristic of each processing function obtained in stepS2504 and the information of the image capturing environment obtain instep S2505, the control unit 304 selects a processing function to beused in actual analysis processing (step S2506), and executes analysisprocessing using the selected processing function (step S2507).

Here, the confirmation of the image capturing environment can be donebased on, for example, the internal clock of the image capturingapparatus 110 or the distribution of brightness values of an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, if theinternal clock indicates a nighttime zone, a processing functionsuitable for processing an image of a relatively low brightness value isselected. If the brightness values of the captured image localize on thelow brightness side, a processing function suitable for processing animage of a relatively low brightness value is selected. Alternatively,the distribution of evaluation values of detection accuracy for abrightness value may be prepared for each processing function and, forexample, a processing function for which the sum of values obtained bymultiplying and adding the frequency of each brightness value of acaptured image and a value indicating the detection accuracy of thebrightness value is most excellent may be selected. The confirmation ofthe image capturing environment may be done based on, for example, theinformation of the angle of view (pan/tilt/zoom) at the time of imagecapturing of the image capturing apparatus 110. For example, aprocessing function to be used is selected based on, for example, whichone of a dark area in a room or a bright area by a window is captured.Note that the characteristic of a processing function may be defined byan index other than the brightness value. For example, variouscharacteristics such as a high face extraction accuracy in an imageincluding a predetermined object such as a window or a high detectionaccuracy for an object that is moving at a high speed can be used as thereference of selection of a processing function to be used.Additionally, for example, each processing function may have acharacteristic representing that processing is performed at a high speedbut at a low accuracy or a characteristic representing that processingis performed relatively at a low speed but at a high accuracy. Asuitable processing function may be selected in accordance with aprocessing condition.

The control unit 304 confirms whether the image capturing environmenthas changed (step S2508). If the image capturing environment has changed(YES in step S2508), the control unit 304 executes the processing ofselecting a processing function suitable for the environment after thechange again (step S2506), and executes analysis processing by theselected processing function (step S2507). On the other hand, if theimage capturing environment has not changed (NO in step S2508), thecontrol unit 304 continues analysis processing without changing theprocessing function (step S2507).

According to this processing, it is possible to select a processingfunction suitable for the environment from a plurality of processingfunctions capable of executing the same processing and use theprocessing function. This makes it possible to selectively use anappropriate processing function for each environment from the viewpointof accuracy of processing or the like.

Third Processing Example

The third processing example of determining allocation of processingbetween the image capturing apparatus 110 and the detachable device 100will be described next with reference to FIG. 26. In this processing,allocation of processing is determined based on whether processing canbe completed only by the combination of processing functions provided inthe detachable device 100.

In this processing, first, as in step S2401 of FIG. 24 or step S2501 ofFIG. 25, the user selects execution target processing on theinput/output apparatus 130, and the control unit 304 of the imagecapturing apparatus 110 obtains information representing the selectedprocessing from the input/output apparatus 130 (step S2601). The controlunit 304 determines whether the selected processing can be implemented(completed) only by the detachable device 100 (step S2602). Note thatthe control unit 304 can perform the determination of step S2602 basedon, for example, whether all functions of the selected processing can besatisfied by the combinations of processing functions provided in thedetachable device 100 or whether a processing result can be stored inthe detachable device 100. For example, if all functions of the selectedprocessing can be satisfied by the combinations of the processingfunctions provided in the detachable device 100, and the processingresult can be stored in the detachable device 100, the control unit 304determines that the processing can be completed only by the detachabledevice 100.

Upon determining that the selected processing cannot be completed onlyby the detachable device 100 (NO in step S2602), the control unit 304allocates the processing between the image capturing apparatus 110 andthe detachable device 100 (step S2603). In this case, processingallocation in the first processing example and the second processingexample can be performed. Note that in this case, all processes may beexecuted by the image capturing apparatus 110, that is, use of theprocessing functions of the detachable device 100 may be inhibited. Onthe other hand, upon determining that the selected processing can becompleted only by the detachable device 100 (YES in step S2602), thecontrol unit 304 selects which processing function of the processingfunctions provided in the detachable device 100 should be used (stepS2604). Note that if the detachable device 100 has a plurality ofprocessing functions capable of executing the same processing, whichprocessing function should be used is selected as in the secondprocessing example. After that, the control unit 304 executes processingof causing the detachable device 100 to execute image analysisprocessing using the selected processing function (step S2605). Inaddition, the control unit 304 executes processing of storing, in thedetachable device 100, the result of performing image analysisprocessing in step S2605 (step S2606). These processes are executedusing, for example, commands of the SD standard. Note that in stepS2606, the result may be stored in the storage unit 404, or if a RAM isprovided in the FPGA 402, the result may be stored in the RAM.

In this processing example, if processing can be completed in thedetachable device 100, the detachable device 100 is caused to executethe processing. Accordingly, processing to be executed by the imagecapturing apparatus 110 is only image transmission to the detachabledevice 100, and the processing load can greatly be reduced.

In the above-described way, functions executable on the side of theimage capturing apparatus 110 are increased using the detachable device100, thereby enhancing processing functions in the system. For example,when a latest processing function is implemented in the detachabledevice 100, image analysis processing by the latest processing functioncan be executed on the side of the image capturing apparatus 110 withoutreplacing the image capturing apparatus 110. This can flexibly operatethe system and improve the convenience.

In the above-described embodiment, image analysis processing has beendescribed as an example of analysis processing. However, the presentinvention is also applicable to audio analysis processing. For example,the present invention can be applied to processing of detecting an audiopattern such as a scream, a gunshot, or glass breaking sound. Forexample, a characteristic amount of an audio is extracted by variousaudio data analysis methods such as spectrum analysis, and the extractedcharacteristic amount is compared with the detected audio pattern. Bycalculating the degree of matching, a specific audio pattern can bedetected.

When performing audio analysis processing, audio data is divided intoaudio data of a predetermined time, audio analysis processing isperformed using the audio data of the predetermined time as a unit. Inaddition, the predetermined time appropriately changes depending on theaudio pattern of the detection target. For this reason, audio data of atime corresponding to an audio pattern to be detected is input to thedetachable device 100. The detachable device 100 has a function ofanalyzing the input audio data or a function of holding the input audiodata.

In the above-described embodiment, the detachable device 100 capable ofnon-temporarily storing data input from the image capturing apparatus110 has been described as an example. However, in some embodiments, thedetachable device 100 that cannot non-temporarily store data input fromthe image capturing apparatus 110 may be used. That is, the detachabledevice 10X) may only perform analysis processing for data input from theimage capturing apparatus 110, and need not have the function ofnon-temporarily storing the data. In other words, the detachable device100 may be not assumed to be used to store data, like a normal SD card,and may have only the function of analysis processing.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-061112, filed Mar. 30, 2020 which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capturing apparatus comprising: amounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holdingat least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capableof communicating with the mounted device in accordance with apredetermined standard; and a memory storing instructions; and aprocessor which, when executing the instructions, causes the apparatusto: if a device having a function of executing image analysis processingfor image data captured by the image capturing apparatus is mounted inthe mounting part, output, to the device, at least two commandscomplying with the predetermined standard and configured to cause thedevice to execute the image analysis processing, wherein each of the atleast two commands includes data representing that the at least twocommands are associated with each other and includes an area whereinformation according to a type of the command is stored, a data lengthof the area of each of the at least two commands is shorter than thedata length of the area in a command that is not associated with theimage analysis processing, and the data representing that the at leasttwo commands are associated with each other is included in each of theat least two commands and is not included in the command that is notassociated with the image analysis processing.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the device can store at least the imagedata, and when causing the device to store the image data withoutcausing the device to execute the image analysis processing, onepredetermined command is output.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein one data is divided into a plurality of partial data, anddifferent partial data are stored in the areas of the at least twocommands.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepredetermined standard is an SD standard.
 5. A device mounted in amounting part of an image capturing apparatus including the mountingpart capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holding at leastan image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capable ofcommunicating with the mounted device in accordance with a predeterminedstandard, comprising: a processing circuit which, when executinginstructions, causes the device to: execute image analysis processingfor image data captured by the image capturing apparatus; and obtain,from the image capturing apparatus, at least two commands complying withthe predetermined standard and configured to cause the device to executethe image analysis processing, wherein the image analysis processing isexecuted if the at least two commands associated with each other areobtained, and each of the at least two commands includes datarepresenting that the at least two commands are associated with eachother and includes an area where information according to a type of thecommand is stored, a data length of the area of each of the at least twocommands is shorter than the data length of the area in a command thatis not associated with the image analysis processing, and the datarepresenting that the at least two commands are associated with eachother is included in each of the at least two commands and is notincluded in the command that is not associated with the image analysisprocessing.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the instructionscause, when executed by the processing circuit, the device to store atleast image data concerning the image captured by the image capturingapparatus, wherein if one predetermined command that does not includethe data representing that the at least two commands are associated witheach other is obtained, the image analysis processing is not executed,and the image data is stored.
 7. The device according to claim 5,wherein one data is obtained by combining different partial data storedin the areas of the at least two commands.
 8. The device according toclaim 5, wherein the predetermined standard is an SD standard.
 9. Acontrol method executed by an image capturing apparatus including amounting part capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holdingat least an image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capableof communicating with the mounted device in accordance with apredetermined standard, comprising if a device having a function ofexecuting image analysis processing for image data captured by the imagecapturing apparatus is mounted in the mounting part, outputting, to thedevice, at least two commands complying with the predetermined standardand configured to cause the device to execute the image analysisprocessing, wherein each of the at least two commands includes datarepresenting that the at least two commands are associated with eachother and includes an area where information according to a type of thecommand is stored, a data length of the area of each of the at least twocommands is shorter than the data length of the area in a command thatis not associated with the image analysis processing, and the datarepresenting that the at least two commands are associated with eachother is included in each of the at least two commands and is notincluded in the command that is not associated with the image analysisprocessing.
 10. A control method executed by a device mounted in amounting part of an image capturing apparatus including the mountingpart capable of attaching/detaching a device capable of holding at leastan image captured by the image capturing apparatus and capable ofcommunicating with the mounted device in accordance with a predeterminedstandard, and having a function of executing image analysis processingfor image data captured by the image capturing apparatus, comprising:obtaining, from the image capturing apparatus, at least two commandscomplying with the predetermined standard and configured to cause thedevice to execute the image analysis processing; and executing the imageanalysis processing if the at least two commands associated with eachother are obtained, and each of the at least two commands includes datarepresenting that the at least two commands are associated with eachother and includes an area where information according to a type of thecommand is stored, wherein a data length of the area of each of the atleast two commands is shorter than the data length of the area in acommand that is not associated with the image analysis processing, andthe data representing that the at least two commands are associated witheach other is included in each of the at least two commands and is notincluded in the command that is not associated with the image analysisprocessing.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium thatstores a program configured to cause a computer included in an imagecapturing apparatus, which includes a mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard, to:if a device having a function of executing image analysis processing forimage data captured by the image capturing apparatus is mounted in themounting part, output, to the device, at least two commands complyingwith the predetermined standard and configured to cause the device toexecute the image analysis processing, wherein each of the at least twocommands includes data representing that the at least two commands areassociated with each other and includes an area where informationaccording to a type of the command is stored, a data length of the areaof each of the at least two commands is shorter than the data length ofthe area in a command that is not associated with the image analysisprocessing, and the data representing that the at least two commands areassociated with each other is included in each of the at least twocommands and is not included in the command that is not associated withthe image analysis processing.
 12. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium that stores a program configured to cause a computerincluded in a device, which is mounted in a mounting part of an imagecapturing apparatus including the mounting part capable ofattaching/detaching a device capable of holding at least an imagecaptured by the image capturing apparatus and capable of communicatingwith the mounted device in accordance with a predetermined standard, andwhich has a function of executing image analysis processing for imagedata captured by the image capturing apparatus, to: obtain, from theimage capturing apparatus, at least two commands complying with thepredetermined standard and configured to cause the device to execute theimage analysis processing; and execute the image analysis processing ifthe at least two commands associated with each other are obtained, andeach of the at least two commands includes data representing that the atleast two commands are associated with each other and includes an areawhere information according to a type of the command is stored, whereina data length of the area of each of the at least two commands isshorter than the data length of the area in a command that is notassociated with the image analysis processing, and the data representingthat the at least two commands are associated with each other isincluded in each of the at least two commands and is not included in thecommand that is not associated with the image analysis processing.